Folding chair



July 31, 1928.

1,679,173 w. c. RASTETTER FOLDING CHAIR Filed Dec. 3, 1925 Patented July 31, 1928.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM o. nns'rn'r'rnn, or FORT WAYNE, INDIANA.

FOLDING CHAIR.

Application filed December This invention relates to improvements in folding chairs and the object thereof is to provide a chair the seat, legs andback of which may be folded into sub-stantlally a common plane. Another object is to pro vide a folding chair structure of extreme simplicity with folding parts so connected in relation with each other that the rigidity of the structure will be increased by the weight of the occupant.

These objects are accomplished by the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: v

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a folding chair embodying the invention; and

.Fig. 2 is a front elevation projected from Fig. 1., V V

The characters appearing in the description refer to parts shown in the drawings and designated thereon by corresponding characters.

The invention comprises aseat frame 1 having a cross rod 2 extending therethrough at a point spaced from the front end of the frame, upon which rod a pair of fore-legs 3 are pivoted at their upper ends. A pair of rear legs 4 are pivoted at their upper ends respectively to the corresponding sides of the seat frame 1 at a point spaced from the rear end thereof, as indicated by 5,.the said rear legs 4 being spaced farther apart than the fore-legs 3 so that the latter may be received between the former legs when folded. The rear legs are each connected to the corresponding fore-leg by a strut 6 being pivoted to the corresponding rear leg at a point suitably spaced from the lower end thereof as indicated by 7, upon the inner side thereof, and the opposite end ofthe strut beingpivoted to the corresponding foreleg, as indicated by 8, upon the outer side thereof.v The length of each strut is equal to the distance between its pivotal connection 7 with the rear leg and the pivotal connection 5 between said rear leg and seat frame. The pivotal connection 8 of said strut; on the fore-leg is spaced from the connection 2 of the upper end of the leg and seat frame, a distance equal to that between the pivotal connections 2 and 5 of the fore-leg and rearleg in the seat frame. By thus disposing the pivotal connections between the fore and rear legs and the seat and between the strut and said legs, thescat, fore-legs and struts 3,1925. Serial No. 72,886.

will fold into substantially a common plane, w th the struts positioned between the corre-. sponding legs; Y i e The forward legs and the rear legs are disposed whenthe-chair is unfolded to its posltion for use, so that the fore-legs slant downwardly toward the front, and the rear legs slant downwardly in the opposite direction with somewhat greater declivity than, that of the'fore-lcgs. Also, the legs slant outwardly toward their lower ends; Thus, when occupied the chair. is braced so as to resist forward and rearward, as well as lateral swaying motion of the occupant.

A back framei) having side, members 10 has pivoted connections at, the lower ends of: its side members 10 respectively with the corresponding rear legs 1 at corresponding points thereon between the seat frame and struts, as indicated by 11, andhas sliding connection with the rear end 12 of the seat frame, there being a laterally disposed stud 13 on each side of the seat frame that pro- ]ects into an elongated slot 14 in the corresponding side member 10 of the back frame and in which said stud has sliding movement. The upper ends of said slots termina-te at such points as to limit the unfolding movement of the seat frame on its pivotal connections with the rear legs when the seat reaches horizontal position.

.When the seat is moved in the opposite direction, or folded, the back frame is swung upon its pivotal connection with the rear logs into the plane of the'rcarlegs throughthe action of the studs in said slots.

A back rest 15 is secured at its top in the upper part of the frame 9 and at its bottom to a cross bar 16 that connects the side members of said frame.

In utilizing the invention the seat i turned outwardly while the back frame is swung rcarwardly, which has the effect also of imparting a forward swinging movement to the fore-legs limited by the struts. l/Vhile the legs rest upon the floor and the weight of the occupantis on the seat, forward and backward swaying movement of the chair is obviated by the struts connecting thefore and rear legs, and the studs on the rear end of, the seat which have limited upward movement in the side members of the back frame. hen the chair is not required for use it is folded by raising the front end of the seat and swinging it into the back frame which has the effect of also folding the legs and struts into a common plane therewith.

lVhat I claim is 1. In a folding chair, a seat frame; a pair of fore-legs having pivotal connections at their upper ends upon a common axis with said frame in the forward part thereof; a pair of rear legs having pivotal connection at their upper ends upon a common axis in said frame at a point therein spaced from the axis of the forelegs; a strut connecting each rear leg with the corresponding foreleg, said strut being pivoted to theinner side of the rear leg near its lower end and to the corresponding fore-leg upon the outer side thereof; a back frame having side members the lower ends of which have connections respectively with said rear legs and sliding connection with the rear end of said seat frame the movement of which sliding connections is limited; and a back rest supported by said back frame.

2. A folding chair comprising a seat frame; a pair of fore-legs pivotally connected with the seat frame in the forward part thereof; a pair of rear legs pivotally connected with the seat frame at a point therein spaced from the connection of the forelegs with said frame; a strut connecting each rear le with the corresponding foreleg so disposed as to admit of folding of the fore and rear legs with the seat; and a back member having pivotal connection with said rear legs and a connection with the rear end of said seat frame having limited sliding movement in the back member.

A folding chair comprising a seat frame; a pair of folding fore-legs in con nection with the seat frame in the forward part thereof; a pair of folding rear legs in connection with the seat frame at a point therein spaced from the connection of the forelegs with said frame; a strut connecting each rear leg with the corresponding foreleg and a back member having pivotal connection with said rear legs and a connection with the rear end of the seat frame admitting of limited sliding movement therebetween.

ture.

WILLIAM G. RASTETTER.

In testimony whereof I affix my sigma 

